NEWS » rback in his first year as a starter. "No competito

OAKLAND, Calif. -- With a little more playing time these past few days, Athletics slugger Billy Butler is finally getting comfortable at the plate -- even in a rare appearance against a right-hander.It might not be enough to get him out of a part-time role in Oakland. Still, its a step in the right direction for the former All-Star first baseman.Butler hit a tiebreaking home run off Erasmo Ramirez with one out in the eighth inning and the As held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Sunday.Ive shown it my career, I can come through in those situations day in and day out, Butler said after helping the As complete a 7-3 homestand. Its one of those things where I really havent had any opportunities to be frustrated. I just havent had my number called a lot. Coming through in those situations, maybe Ill get my number called more.Oakland lost the first game of this series then won the next two on walkoff hits. The As led 2-0 in the finale until Logan Forsythes tying two-run homer in the top of the eighth.Ramirez (7-8) retired Khris Davis on a fly ball before Butler hammered an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center. Its Butlers third home run of the season and first since June 7.Butler also had an RBI single in the first, giving him 18 RBI over his last 35 games.Its tough for a guy that plays every day to try to get himself into a rhythm if hes not, but thats a big hit today, As manager Bob Melvin said. Hes staying positive . but this has been a tough year for him, based on the fact hes asked to do something hes not used to doing.Davis added two hits while Jake Smolinski doubled twice and scored for the As.Ryan Dull (4-2) retired two batters for the win despite giving up Forsythes home run. Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his 21st save.Home runs have beat us up a lot this year, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Obviously when you give up that many, theyre coming at the wrong time.Forsythes home run in the eighth ruined an otherwise stellar day for As starter Jesse Hahn.Called up from the minors before the game, Hahn faced just two over the minimum through six innings and allowed only one runner to reach second base before leaving with a 2-0 lead with two outs in the eighth. The right-hander walked one and matched his season-high of five strikeouts.Oakland jumped on Tampa Bay rookie left-hander Blake Snell early and strung together four consecutive one-out hits in the first. Davis had an RBI double and Butler added a run-scoring single to put the As up 2-0.Snell allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.THIN BENCHWith only one fully healthy player (Matt McBride) available off the bench Melvin was asked if he had any pitchers hed consider using as positional players if the need arose. Ive got a couple of guys that would like to do it, Melvin said, specifically mentioning Sonny Gray and Kendall Graveman. I hope I dont get to that point. Position players always think they can pitch . and pitchers who are athletic always think they can play positions.TRAINERS ROOMRays: Desmond Jennings (strained left hamstring) ran the bases and took batting practice without a setback during a minor league rehab appearance. ... RHP Brad Boxberger threw 22 pitches in a rehab outing and is hopeful of rejoining the big league club in Los Angeles.Athletics: Coco Crisp was a late scratch because of neck soreness. He joined Josh Reddick (lower back soreness) on the bench. ... Rich Hill threw 30 pitches while wearing a protective covering on the middle finger of his left hand. Hill, who left his last start after five pitches because of a blister, will continue to throw bullpens for conditioning until the blister heals. ... Arismendy Alcantara was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.UP NEXTRays: RHP Chris Archer (5-13) pitches against the Dodgers in the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday. Archer entered the weekend leading the AL with 147 strikeouts.Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden (1-1) returns to his native Texas to face the Rangers on Monday. Mengden was born in Houston and attended Texas A&M.- -- -This version correctly shows that the As took three of four games and did not sweep the series. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Gear . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. http://www.nfljerseyschinastore.com/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Discount Nike NFL jerseys . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Jerseys NFL Wholesale China .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. MONTREAL -- Brandon Whitaker is starting to feel himself again. The speedy running back started slow but ended up with a career-high 162 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Montreal Alouettes ended a three-game losing streak with a 32-27 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday night. Whitaker was tearing up the CFL last year before blowing out a knee, and had been quiet through the first four games of the season before finally breaking out against the struggling Eskimos. "It felt good," said Whitaker, who gained only 24 yards in the first half but then erupted for 138 in the final 30 minutes. "That was the most carries I got in a long time. "It felt good to run the ball and block. It just felt good to win. Ive still got a bit of work to do. I dont feel 100 per cent myself, but its definitely coming." Anthony Calvillo threw a touchdown pass to S.J. Green, and Sean Whyte booted six field goals for Montreal (2-3), which has won seven in a row against the Eskimos over the last four seasons. Cary Koch scored on a kick return and a reception while Calvin McCarty also had a TD catch from Mike Reilly. Grant Shaw kicked two field goals for Edmonton (1-4), which has lost three in a row. A game filled with penalties and errors by two teams at the bottom of their respective divisions had the 23,012 at Percival Molson Stadium on their feet for a thrilling finish. The ground attack was critical for Montreal as Reilly led a second half comeback and came within a yard of stealing the victory for the Eskimos. Montreal took a five-point lead with one minute to play, but Reilly marched the Eskimos down the Montreal one-yard line with one play left in the game. However, John White was stopped behind the line of scrimmage by Chip Cox as time expired. Reilly had been pulled in the second quarter when the offence stalled, but finished the game with 16 completions for 262 yards and touchdown passes to Koch and McCarty. "It was a tremendous step forward (for Reilly)," coach Kavis Reed said. "When a quarterback is down by five with less than a minute left and you have to drive a football down and get in a position to win, and to execute it almost flawlessly, I think thats a leap for him." There had been speculation that Montreal may fire first-year coach Dan Hawkins or offensive co-ordinator Mike Miller if they lost, but the Alouettes responded with with their best offensive performance of the season. Now they can go into a bye week with some confidence. "I thought Mike called a really good game," said Hawkins. "Kept them off balance for the most part, and you know, when we get an opportunity to run the football and get some continuity, you want to. "But its tough. If we get stopped a few times you get out of your rhythm. But Mike called a really great game and the O-line did a good job and B-Whit (Whitaker) did a nice job too." They had a five-minute edge in time of possession and finally got the mix of air and ground attack to move the yardsticks consistently. Calvillo had 202 yards on 19 completions and Whitaker did the rest. But it wasnt easy. Whytes field goal gave Montreal a 26-13 lead at 1:18 of the fourth quarter, but Edmonton struck back with a pair of TDs in a 1:21 span to take the lead for the first time. Reilly helped set up the first one himself as he ran for 20 yards, then hit McCarty with a 20-yard TD pass at 2:16. Whitaker fumbled on Montreals next play from scrimmage, and one play later, Reilly found Koch in the end zone wiith a 24-yard pass for another TD.dddddddddddd But Montreal bounced back as a poor Shaw punt gave them the ball at the 29 and Whyte booted his fifth of the night for a two-point lead with 4:12 left to play. He added another kick at 14:00. Then Reilly went to work, completing a series of passes to move the ball first to the Montreal 5, then to the 1. He took the final snap from the shotgun formation, but time expired as White was stuffed by Cox behind the line of scrimmage. "If they had it to do over again theyd probably line up and try to push us through," said Cox. "But coach (Noel Thorpe) called a good play and we made it." Linebacker Shea Emry, who had two interceptions, said the win was good but the Alouettes cant go away thinking all their early season problems are solved. Penalties remain a problem for both teams, as the Alouettes took 10 and Edmonton 13. And there were still moments of confusion. "Its one game and theres still lots of stuff for us to work on out there," said Emry. "Lots of penalties, lots of mistakes that are costing us points. "Luckily weve got a bye and we can heal up a bit and move on to the next game." It was the first win by an East Division team over the West this season (1-6). Edmonton has not won in Montreal since 2007. The Eskimos used all three quarterbacks in the first half but picked up only a pair of Shaw field goals as Montreal took a 20-6 lead. A weak punt by Shaw gave Montreal the ball on the Edmonton 40 and they converted that with a field goal 4:58 into the game. Reillys 44-yard toss to Fred Stamps set up Shaws 26-yard boot to tie it at 7:14. Emry picked off a Reilly pass at the 18 and, four plays later, Calvillo hit Green with a six-yard TD pass at 13:47. It gave Calvillo a personal record 22 straight games with a passing TD. Jonathan Crompton took over at quarterback and promptly threw another interception to Emry, setting up Whytes 31-yard kick 5:36 into the second quarter. Noel Devine then fumbled a punt on the Montreal 17 for his second kick return fumble in as many weeks. Kerry Joseph took over behind centre, but the Eskimos settled for Shaws 18-yard field goal at 8:51. A late Montreal drive saw Whitaker run in a TD from the 13. Reed said pulling Reilly was part of the learning process for a quarterback in his first year as a starter. "No competitor is OK with coming out," said Reed. "If he was OK with coming out I wouldnt be very happy. "He understood what we were trying to accomplish. He went back in and played exceptionally well." The Eskimos started the second half as Koch returned a punt 81 yards for a TD at 4:39. It was the teams first punt return TD in two years. Montreal hit back with two Whyte field goals. Kyries Hebert had two first-half sacks to take the league lead with seven. Defensive tackle Scooter Berry and linebacker Marc-O Brouillette left the game with injuries. Notes: Former Eskimos running back Jarome Messam did not dress for Montreal. He reportedly has turf toe. . . Edmonton cornerback Joe Burnett (leg) sat out and Chris Rwabukama dressed. . . Reilly is the fourth different quarterback in their last four meetings to start for the Esks against Montreal, after Ricky Ray, Jarious Jyles and Kerry Joseph. . . Not seen this season is Alouettes mascot Blitz, who has been retired. The inflatable-headed Blitz once took a five-yard penalty in a game for knocking an officials cap off during a TD celebration. They have another mascot called Touche. ' ' '